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In reply, Mr Mansour pointed out that he had recently written to Mr Greste's parents, Lois and Juris Greste, and pledged to the pair that the journalist would be subject to a fair and just legal process.

The President also promised Mr Greste would receive the support and legal assistance he needed and said he hoped the case would be resolved as soon as possible.

Mr Greste and his colleagues - bureau chief Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fadel and their Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed Fahmy - have been accused of conspiring with the Muslim Brotherhood to smear Egypt's reputation.

He is also alleged to have reported falsely that Egypt was in a state of ''civil war'' and of using unlicensed equipment to defame Egypt.

On Monday, an angry Mr Greste shouted from a defendants' cage during the trial.

''We haven't seen a single shred of evidence presented in the court that could possibly justify the charges or our imprisonment - we have spent three months in prison on baseless charges," he said.

Ms Plibersek said she was very pleased Mr Abbott had reached out to Mr Mansour.

''Being a journalist is not a crime. A free press is critically important. Journalists shouldn't be put on trial or locked up for doing their job,'' she said.

''I commend the significant efforts of the Australian diplomats who are working so hard on this matter.''

Senator Milne, who had a Senate motion passed in February calling for Mr Abbott to contact Mr Mansour, welcomed the intervention.

''It was heart wrenching to hear him calling from his cage for Tony Abbott to intervene, saying that everyone from the United Nations down to the White House had already done so,'' she said.,

''No doubt the government could no longer pretend that due legal process was being followed in Egypt after more than 500 people were given the death sentence for merely attending a rally.''